Goolsbee, king of economists

U of C professor now heads President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, making him one of the world's most influential economists.

Former U of C lecturer (and current U.S. President) Barack Obama named on-leave professor Austan Goolsbee the chair of his White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) today, a bit of a promotion for the young economist, who has served on the CEA since January 2009. Since Goolsbee will now be the chief economic adviser to the man with the most sway over the economy in the world, does that make Austan Goolsbee the King of the Economists? More importantly, it means he'll be extending his leave-of-absence, doesn't it? Lame.

More details are here, via Politico's Mike Allen. The most important things to know about Goolsbee, from that article, are: "As a University of Chicago economics professor, he advised Obama’s 2004 Senate campaign and 2008 presidential campaign. Last year, he won a 'D.C.'s Funniest Celebrity' contest." Long live the king!

Asher Klein, '11

September 10, 2010